QuoteCarey Is that 40.00 monthly for 12 months, does your plan reach a period called the donut hole and then your price for your drug increase for about 3 months. I am checking plans now so that my price remains the same for the whole year. These supplemental plans usually don't want to talk when they know a person has AF, that may not apply to you as you are no longer in AF. I pay theby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
I tried on 2019 and I was told Medicare would not approve the Watchman. I spent many days of my personal time trying to get information to justify the Watchman procedure but Austin finally said it was a NO. I am not 65. I am disabled on Medicare. I will be 64 in February. It was Hell at that time to get anyone onboard in Austin whom seemed interested in my situation. I love TCA center and whatby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
I failed Test 2. (test 2. = not passing the Doppler A-Wave test into the mitral valve inflow. Hence I have been on Eliquis since LAA was isolated in mid 2016. I passed all the other test. I am on 2.5 mg 2X a day of Eliquis. The cost is the same. Individuals on Part D Medicare prescription drug coverage will really get the shaft starting in 2022. I suggest anyone on Medicare prescription drug plby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Not trying to be negative but Multaq did not work for me. It is also very expensive.by smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteElizabeth Smackman: That is where i got my Xeralto from, walmarts., they said they were a preferred pharmacy. Maybe it is the state where they are located, Walmart’s is a preferred pharmacy. It must be state. With the price jumping so much in 2022 for Eliquis, I will financially be forced to go with Warafin. I started with Pradaxa in 2011. Then no I swapped between Eliquis and Xarelto beby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteElizabeth Smackman; Yes, i was with Silverscript and now it is Aetna. I should have said that the $43. was for a 30 day supply and I paid $129. for a 3 months supply, you are paying a little less than I am. I don't know how much I will have to pay but probably around what you are saying, I will check it out. There was supposed to be a generic but so far there isn't one, the dby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteElizabeth Smackman; i pay $43.00 for a 90 day supply of Xeralto, then in around the first of Oct. that price goes up and i will then have to pay close to $300 for the same 90 pills until the end of the year and the first month of the next year. Now that is my cost now, you are saying that it is going up, i will have to chec k on the price. Our insurance system is lousy we are paying waby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Aetna formerly Silver Scripts just sent out the projected cost for Medicare Part D Prescription drugs for 2022. It’s the 2022 Annual notice of Changes. The monthly premium in my state goes up approximately $2 a month BUT the Deductible for Tier 3-5 goes up from $215 to $480 AND by my calculations the cost of Eliquis for a preferred Pharmacy has Eliquis going up from $35 a month to approximatelby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Personally I feel you need to ask your EP/Cardiologist all these technical Questions. I was in Persistent AFIB when I was diagnosed in late 2011. I probably had been popping in and out of AFIB but I ignored it. I lost 90+ lbs in 2011. My AFIB was found during my annual physical. I have had 2 Ablations both by Dr. Natale. One in Feb 2014 the second in June or July of 2016. I had been ECV so manyby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Medigap insurance prices are ridiculous. I am talking about a supplement for Medicare like Part N. It’s almost impossible to find a Medicare Advantage plan that covers out of state. The reason I keep the Medigap with a supplement is to be able to use Austin Texas if my AFIB needs attention down the road. Besides this, I have no reason to pay such a ridiculous price for a supplement because I am 6by smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey Those are exactly my reasons for wanting a Watchman. Expecting to live another 20 years without ever needing to stop an anticoagulant for medical reasons is obviously unrealistic. And then there are all the other possibilities such as losing or forgetting your meds when you're somewhere they can't be promptly replaced, being seriously injured, being unable to communicate to dby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey I worked with them for at least 2 weeks on and off but I was told I would not be approved as long as I could handle a NOAC like Eliquis. How long ago was this? I know of several people who've received a Watchman in the last 12 months who were doing just fine on Eliquis. They had an isolated LAA and inadequate function, and that was sufficient for approval. I believe all wereby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey Nobody had any pull. It was just being at the right place at the right time to be able to get into the last few slots open in the trial, and meeting the criteria for being accepted. It also required paying for multiple trips to Austin, and then undergoing a bunch of followup exams. It's likely you could qualify for a Watchman now. The criteria in 2016 were hard to meet. You hadby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
I did not get the Watchman. This was summer 2016 so the Watchman I believe was still “ sorta experimental “. I wish I had the Watchman or newest device that is used. Some lucky posters got in on the Watchman trial but I knew Zero about a trial so it was given to certain individuals with some pull IMO. That’s okay; It’s Life. I wish I could have got it for free but life goes on and I stay on Eliquby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Recommendations for boosting immune system I am looking for suggestions on supplements to take to boost my immune system. I take 1000 mg of Vitamin C, 110 mg of C and 125 mcg of D. I am 62 and just trying to stay as healthy as possible. Thank you in advance.by smackman - GENERAL HEALTH FORUM
After Dr. Natale isolated my LAA on the 2nd procedure, I went back to Austin 6 months later. My LAA had a emptying velocity of 55-60%. LAA was normal in size. Everything was great except I HAD NO A WAVES. Tall E waves are noted. This was at the Mitral Valve.. Because of this, I am on Eliquis for life. It’s not always just about flow. I am no EP but I follow Dr. Natale orders.by smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
I agree Carey but I do not live in a big city so my choices are limited. I have been on the phone with Austin TCA. They told me about the bridging procedure and actually sent me a article via email concerning the stroke issue with a isolated LAA. I might have to travel to Austin to get my Colonoscopy done. After seeing what my 68 year old Brother is going through, I will not stop Eliquis withouby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Personally, I would be ecstatic if I had a Watchman even if I had to continue Eliquis after the watchman procedure. My problem is I cannot stop Eliquis for a procedure such as epidural shots for chronic back pain etc. I need a Colonoscopy but I cannot stop the blood thinner. I know the Lovacane procedure is a option for this but it is extremely difficult to get Doctors to go this route. Withby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Was your LAA isolated?by smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
I was practicing Softball hitting with my Granddaughter. The ball was on a Tee. To make a long story short, I was hit on my jawbone and right eye with a Softball bat. It was the worse hematoma I have ever had. My eye socket was ex-rayed for broken bones etc. I was on Eliquis full strength 5 mg 2x a day. No issues from 11 year old accidentally hitting Papa in the eye with the bat. It was my faultby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey I was told that I had to try various drugs first. So, it is NOT first line for me anyway. When was this and are you sure it was coming from Medicare? I really want to hear this answer. It is so important to know what your will cover. One can get “ burned” really easily by a contractor who’s goal is to sell you a plan BUT you find out the hard way that only certain Hospitals wilby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
I NEVER had any type of Magnesium help “ curve” a AFIB episode. Now, I do take chelated magnesium (400-600 mg) daily and 400 mg of Magnesium Citrate daily because It is highly recommended on this website by some very smart individuals. I take it to bowel tolerance. My Chelated Magnesium is Doctors Best brand and the Magnesium Citrate is the NOW capsule brand. The only thing that “curved” my Aby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
The biggest issue someone with Medicare can run into is the 20% Medicare does not pay. If you have Medigap, you should be fine. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you could have issues if you do not live in Texas. Medicare Advantage generally works with the state Hospitals and facilities. Medigap is a Medicare supplement that will cover your out of state Medicare Deductible. Make sure yourby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Was your LAA isolated? If not your chances are excellent to get off Eliquis. My LAA was isolated on my 2nd Afib Procedure. ALL my flows were great when I had my TEE 6 months later BUT I did not have a P wave. Dr. Natale put me on 2.5 mg Eliquis 2x a day. He does prescribe me 5 mg tablets which I split in half saving me a ton of money. It tried to get approval for the Watchman in 2019 but never waby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
I live 100 miles away from the Hospital that my Cardiologist calls Home. It is Shreveport, Louisiana. I live 8 miles from my Country Hospital which has less than 40 beds and no full time Doctor 24/7 much less a Cardiologist or EP. I would go to my local emergency room to get stabilized. My BPM where around 170 but they had the ability to communicate with EP’s from Oschner at Tulane in New Orleanby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteElizabeth GGheld; Are those pills scored? If not then each half doesn't hold the same amount of med when you cut them. I actually discussed cutting 5 mg in half with the individual who I call to get refills for my Eliquis from Austin. He said he would ask Doctor and They agreed to it! That will cut my cost in half. I do agree that some pills not scored are not suppose to be diby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes, It was Dr. Natales decision. I was not offered the watchman at that time nor was I one of the lucky recipients of the trial. I tried in I believe in late 2019 to see if I could get the watchman but was told it was very difficult to get approval after a couple of weeks of conversations with Austin with Medicare and a excellent supplement. Anyway, Eliquis puts me in the donut hole every year.by smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
My LAA velocity was 55-60%. Tall E waves were noted BUT no A waves are seen. I was left on a low dose of Eliquis for life. Low dose eliquis cost the same as regular dose which is a rip off. I continue to take 2.5 mg of Eliquis 2x a day since Dec. 2016.by smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Your life; Your Decision. I am 63 and I am on a blood thinner Eliquis for life. LAA was isolated and I failed the 6 month TEE. I decided with the guidance of many well educated men and women on this forum to do what one ofThe leading EP in the world said to do. Dr. Natale It is your life but I can promise you no one will pressure you. I owe these men and women my life. Shannon was a Godsend toby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
I have no idea if a ECV would fry it. Never had a ECV after it was installed. Had many before my first ablation.by smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM